International Journal of Engineering Research
Volume No.6, Issue No.9, pp : 431-432
Internet Addiction
Matthew N.O. Sadiku1, Adebowale E. Shadare2, Sarhan M. Musa3
1,2
Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering, 3Department of Engineering Technology,
Prairie View A&M University, Prairie View, TX 77446
Email: sadiku@iee.org, shadareadebowale@yahoo.com, smmusa@pvamu.edu
Abstract- The Internet is one of the most widely used media in
modern society. However, it has great potential to affect the
emotions of humans and anxiety levels. Internet addicts suffer
from emotional problems such as depression and anxiety-
related disorders. Some of them are also addicted to alcohol,
drugs, tobacco, or sex. Young adults between the ages of 18-29
are considered as the most preoccupied population with
Internet. Internet addiction is a medically recognized
disorder. This paper provides a brief introduction to Internet
addiction.
Keywords: Internet addiction, problematic Internet use,
Internet addiction disorder, Internet dependence
I. INTRODUCTION
The Internet is currently available worldwide and is used for
sharing information, communication, education, research,
entertainment, banking, e-commerce, retail sales, socialization,
gamification, and government. Internet use is becoming wide-
spread in each age group all over the world today. Although the
Internet has made life a lot easier by making information more
accessible to everyone, it has caused people to spend too much
time in front of the computer. Excessive Internet use may be
determined by losing track of time, neglecting basic drives such
as hunger and sleep, withdrawal systems, and negative
behaviors including anger, fatigue, depression, and social
isolation. The misuse and abuse of the Internet can potentially
lead to Internet addiction (IA). Internet addiction is known by
several other names such as Problematic Internet Use (PIU),
Internet Addiction Disorder (IAD), Internet Dependency (ID),
Internet Behavior Dependence (IBD), and Online Addiction
(OA).
Internet addiction is a subset of a broader problem known
"technology addiction". It refers to the inability to maintain
balance or control of Internet use in relation to everyday life.
Online habits such as reading, playing digital games, cyber sex,
online gambling, online bidding, or watching Internet videos are
problematic only to the extent that these activities interfere with
normal life. Internet users can become addicted to these online
activities, rather than the Internet itself.
Addiction is characterized by the misuse or mismanagement
of time. A major reason the Internet is so appealing and
addicting is the lack of limits and the absence of accountability.
There is a lack of representative data on its prevalence in the
general population. Gender and age are important predictors of
IA. Men are usually more addicted to the Internet than women.
Teenagers are more addicted to the Internet than adults [1].
DOI : 10.5958/2319-6890.2017.00056.3
ISSN:2319-6890 (online),2347-5013(print)
1 Sept. 2017
Research results indicate that Internet addiction exists among
college students, who have easy access to laptops and computer
labs. It is also being seen in high school and middle school
students. Adolescents who are Internet addicts perform low in
school work.
II. SOURCES OF ADDICTION
Addictive use of the Internet may be a way to escape from real
problems. Online relationship through social networks, gaming
chats, online gambling, and pornography were preferentially
used by Internet addicts [2,3].
Cyber-relationship: This source of addiction is the
addiction to social networking such as Facebook and MySpace,
and online dating services. Internet users may enjoy aspects of
the Internet that allow them to meet and socialize through the
use of chat rooms and social networking websites. Internet
addicts use the virtual fantasy world to connect with people
through the Internet, as a substitution for real-life human
connection. They can even fall into the temptation of cyber
adultery.
Online gaming: This involves spending extreme
amounts of time on playing web games, gambling, shopping or
e-trading. The Internet provides an almost limitless source of
entertainment. Playing online games can be psychologically
addictive.
Online Gambling: Since gambling is available online,
it increases the opportunity for problem gamblers to indulge in
gambling and become addictive. Online gambling is regarded as
serious as pathological gambling.
Cyber sex: Internet sex addiction usually involves
viewing, downloading, and trading online pornography or
engagement in adult fantasy role-play rooms. The Internet user
typically searches for pornography or to engage in casual
cybersex with other users. Addiction to online pornography has
become the crack cocaine of the Internet [4].
Other sources of Internet addiction include online or mobile
gaming, stock trading, virtual reality, information searching,
information overload, and excessive surfing.
III. ADDICTION TREATMENTS
Attempts to quit Internet overuse may result in anger,
depression, relief, mood swings, anxiety, fear, irritability,
helplessness, guilt, anxiety, sadness, loneliness, boredom,
restlessness, procrastination, and sleep disorder. Biomedical
research on the effects of computer use has shown that the
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Volume No.6, Issue No.9, pp : 431-432
degree of pain is proportional to the time of computer use. If
your internet addiction is interfering with your quality of life,
you should seek professional help or IA therapist. There are
rehabilitation centers where trained professionals can guide you
toward a healthier lifestyle. If a professional therapists and
rehabilitation centers are too expensive, you may be able to find
a support group you can join for free.
Internet addiction is considered a brain disease that needs
treatment, but its treatment has not been standardized. Since IA
is a disorder emanating from disturbed life style, treatments
based on altering lifestyle can be helpful. Building skills that are
necessary for a healthy interaction on the Internet is especially
important at an early age. Group-based positive psychology
interventions (PIs) approach has been proposed to increase
social adjustment, improve the quality of relationships and
reduce the severity of Internet use for individuals with Internet
addiction. This focuses on the enhancement of social adjustment
[5].
The US could learn from countries like Korea (one of the most
wired countries in the world) and provide national screening
days to identify children at young ages with IA, provide school-
based prevention programs, and provide more Internet addiction
inpatient programs giving parents and families options for
treatment [6]. School teachers and administrators in junior or
senior high schools should pay a closer attention to students
who show IA. There is a need for preventive measures including
counseling and education to increase students' awareness about
IA.
IV. CONCLUSION
Internet addiction is a disorder related to excessive
preoccupations regarding computer use and Internet access. It is
destructive. It is both a personal and a social problem in modern
life. It is a growing social issue which is being debated
worldwide, driven by increased preoccupation with the amount
of time being spent online by children, young people and adults.
The problem of IA has attracted great attention from
psychiatrists, doctors, educators, governments, parents, and the
DOI : 10.5958/2319-6890.2017.00056.3
ISSN:2319-6890 (online),2347-5013(print)
1 Sept. 2017
public. It has become a public health issue that cannot be
neglected.
Online resources for Internet addiction can be found in [7].
More research work is needed on IA treatment.
REFERENCES
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addiction and its relationship to chronotype and personality in a
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ii. Internet addiction disorder, Wikipedia, the free
encyclopedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_addiction_disorder
iii. F. Saliceti, Internet addiction disorder (IAD), Procedia -
Social and Behavioral Sciences, vol. 191, 2015, pp. 1372 1376.
iv. K. S. Young, Internet sex addiction risk factors, stages of
development, and treatment, American Behavioral Scientist, vol. 52,
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v. F. Khazaei, O. Khazaei, and B. Ghanbari-H, Positive
psychology interventions for Internet addiction treatment,
Computers in Human Behavior , vol. 72, 2017, pp. 304-311.
vi. K. S. Young, The evolution of Internet addiction,
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vii. Resources for Internet Addiction, IEEE Technology and
Society Magazine, December 2016, pp. 16.
AUTHORS
Matthew N.O. Sadiku ( sadiku@iee.org) is a professor at
Prairie View A&M University, Texas. He is the author of several books
and papers. He is an IEEE fellow. His research interests include
computational electromagnetics and computer networks.
Adebowale Shadare (shadareadebowale@yahoo.com) is a
doctoral student at Prairie View A&M University, Texas. He is the
author of several papers.
Sarhan M. Musa (smmusa@pvamu.edu) is a professor in the
Department of Engineering Technology at Prairie View A&M
University, Texas. He has been the director of Prairie View Networking
Academy, Texas, since 2004. He is an LTD Spring and Boeing
Welliver Fellow.
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